Cercartetus nanus
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) is a diprotodont marsupial of south-eastern Australia. Occurring from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and also Tasmania, it is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.
The eastern pygmy possum is the type species of the genus Cercartetus (family Burramyidae), and was first described as Phalangista nana with the specific name meaning 'dwarf' in Latin. Currently, the authority for the specific name is widely accepted as Desmarest 1818, but in a review recently published, it was pointed out that an earlier version of Desmarest's account was published in 1817.
Vernacular names that have been used for this species include dwarf phalanger, minute phalanger, dwarf cuscus, pigmy phalanger, Bell's Dromicia, opossum mouse, dusky Dromicia, pygmy opossum, thick-tailed Dromicia... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Pygmy Possum sighting in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 16th most-seen of the 21 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April–May, July, October and December–January
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Pygmy Possum in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–March, June, August–September and November, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Pygmy Possum sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Eastern Pygmy Possum sightings, Blue Mountains National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%) and Springbrook National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same order: Diprotodontia
The closest relatives of the Eastern Pygmy Possum that you can see in Blue Mountains National Park (order Diprotodontia, Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies) are Eastern Grey Kangaroo (about 30%), Common Brushtail (about 30%) and Common Ringtail Possum (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Pygmy Possum is recorded against all the mammals logged in Blue Mountains National Park (11 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
